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Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé showered praise on six of football's most exciting young talents, with Barcelona rival Lamine Yamal topping his list.
Mbappé has had a ringside view of Yamal's brilliance since joining Real Madrid ahead of the 2024–25 campaign. The two attackers have gone head-to-head in Clásico after Clásico, with Yamal and Barcelona emerging victorious in six of the last seven encounters.
The pair have also clashed on the international stage, most recently in the 2026 World Cup semifinals. Spain and Yamal prevailed on that occasion too, beating France 2–0 to book their place in the final, which they went on to win.
Rivalry notwithstanding, Mbappé was generous with his admiration. When asked which players excite him most right now, the Frenchman told France Football: "I don't want to name names because if I forget someone … To say who the 10 or 15 best players in the world are, I think everyone would agree.
"Among the youngsters, Lamine Yamal. He has everything."
Yamal joined Mbappé on the 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d'Or. The teenager is among the frontrunners for the award, as well as the Kopa Trophy, which recognizes the best under-21 player in the sport.
Mbappé Highlights Five Other Young Stars
Mbappé could easily have stopped at Yamal, given that the 19-year-old stands head and shoulders above every other young player in the game. But the 27-year-old also turned the spotlight on several other talents across Europe who have caught his attention.
"I also like Estêvão; he has a special creativity," Mbappé said. "Here, Arda Güler can go very far. Endrick has potential; he's a goalscorer. Warren [Zaïre-Emery] and Désiré [Doué] are going to have great careers, for sure."
It comes as little surprise that Mbappé singled out his Real Madrid teammate Güler. The two forged a dynamic partnership throughout 2025–26 and have picked up seamlessly where they left off this season.
Mbappé's nod to Endrick, meanwhile, reflects the Brazilian's mixed spell in a white shirt. The striker brims with "potential," yet injuries and limited playing time have significantly hampered his growth at the Bernabéu. Still, during his loan spell at Lyon in the second half of last season, Endrick racked up 16 goal contributions in 21 appearances.
Fellow Brazilian Estêvão has also endured a difficult stretch recently. The Chelsea winger was sidelined for the tail end of last season and the 2026 World Cup due to a hamstring injury. He now faces a tough fight for minutes under Xabi Alonso, with marquee signing Morgan Rogers completing the Blues' attacking line.
As for Zaïre-Emery and Doué, Mbappé is more than familiar with the quality both youngsters bring. From his time alongside the former at Paris Saint-Germain to sharing the pitch with both for France, the Real Madrid star is better placed than almost anyone to appreciate the bright futures ahead of them — two Champions League titles in their trophy cabinets speak for themselves.
Zaïre-Emery is also in the running for the Kopa Trophy, as is Mbappé's new Real Madrid teammate Yan Diomande. The latter has yet to make a starting appearance for Los Blancos, however, which likely explains why Mbappé is reserving his verdict for now.